The attacks on the Android operating system just keep on coming with threats emerging on an almost weekly basis. This popular software is an easy target for cyber criminals looking to steal data and make a quick buck from unsuspecting users. Although reports of these risks continue to flood in, new data has revealed the biggest threat to Android – and it’s something that fans of Google’s OS should definitely not ignore.
According to the security team at Avast, the most common attack on Android is now adware, which accounts for 70 percent of all mobile malware.
The remaining 28 percent of threats then come from banking trojans, fake apps, lockers, and downloaders. Although adware may not sound that scary it is a huge problem which not only makes devices almost unusable but also offers attackers ways of generating large amounts of revenue.
There are two main types of adware. Firstly, adware apps – that cause distraction and annoyance. And secondly, the more serious ad-fraud/ad-clicker breed, which allow criminals to subscribe users to premium subscriptions services they don’t want – charging them a monthly fee behind their backs.
Avast says that adware often disguises itself in the form of gaming and entertainment apps, or other app types that are currently trending which helps hackers target the most amount of users.
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These apps may appear harmless, but once they’ve infected a device they will surreptitiously click on ads in the background. Sometimes, adware also serves adverts with malicious content.
Speaking about the findings, Nikolaos Chrysaidos, Head of Mobile Threat Intelligence & Security at Avast said: “No one likes getting served with incessant ads; they’re often unwanted and can ruin our enjoyment of an app. They could also pose a threat to users as cybercriminals can use them as a backdoor to a device – whether it’s to make money from advertisers or steal your personal information. We’ve been tracking this issue for a number of years and the increased use of mobile devices is likely fuelling its growth.”
If you are worried about adware, Avast has published some simple tips to help Android users avoid this growing threat.
Here’s five things to help you stay safe online.
• Only download apps from official app stores, like Google Play, as they have security measures in place to check apps before developers upload them, or from the app’s website directly for extra assurance
• Check app ratings of other users in the store, as it’s still important to watch out for fakes. If an app has few stars and many negative comments, something might be amiss
• Carefully review the permissions an app requests before downloading an app; if an app requests access to data that it doesn’t need in order to function, it might be fraudulent
• Check your banking and credit card statements to identify any unauthorised payments. Cybercriminals will select low-cost subscriptions so they’re hard to spot
• Use an antivirus solution on your phone to identify and stop any attempted attacks.
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